The highly anticipated North East Zone Inter-University (Men) Football Tournament kicked off on November 11 at Nagaland University, Lumami. The five-day tournament, featuring university teams from the eight northeastern states, commenced with an impressive inaugural ceremony at the Dr. T. Ao Football Ground, informed a press release by the NU PRO.
The inaugural ceremony was’chaired by Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi, Assistant Professor, Department of EVS, Nagaland University. Dr. Tripathi set a motivational tone for the tournament by quoting Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho, “I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.”
DDS Dr. Harish Kumar Tiwari, Organizing Secretary of the tournament, delivered the Welcome Address. He spoke about the immense contribution of Dr. T. Ao, the first football captain of independent India, both to the nation and to the state of Nagaland. Dr. Tiwari expressed his excitement about the tournament, describing it not only as a sporting competition but also as a celebration of talent, unity, and sportsmanship. He encouraged the players to embrace the experience as an opportunity for personal and collective growth.
The ceremony also saw a speech from the Guest of Honour, Dr. Abemo, Registrar, Nagaland University. Dr. Abemo highlighted that this was a milestone event since Nagaland University was hosting a Northeast football tournament for the first time. He stressed the significance of sports in fostering personal development, building social connections, and promoting unity. Dr. Abemo expressed optimism that the players would not only showcase their football skills but also leave a lasting impression on the local community, spreading the message of progress being made at Nagaland University.
The Chief Guest, Prof. J.K. Patnaik, Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University, extended a warm welcome to the teams from across the Northeast. He noted the logistical challenges faced by the region due to its diverse terrain but emphasized the growing influence of Northeast players in the Indian Super League (ISL), and making notable contributions to other sports at the national level. In a tribute to Dr. T. Ao, Prof. Patnaik shared an anecdote in which Dr. Ao explained his decision to play barefoot: “You play football with foot, not boot.” Prof. Patnaik urged the players to demonstrate sportsmanship and give their best in the tournament.
The ceremony attended by Deans, HoDs, Faculty, Officers, Staff, and students saw a vibrant cultural performance by NUSU (L), with the vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Ashish Kumar, Hindi Officer, Nagaland University.
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After the oath-taking ceremony, the tournament was officially declared open, and the first match took place between Manipur University and Tripura University. The match ended in a thrilling penalty shootout, with Tripura emerging victorious 5-4 after a 1-1 draw in regular time. In the second match, Guwahati University defeated Tezpur University 1-0.
According to a press release from NU PRO Peter Ki, the tournament follows a knockout format in its initial stages, with the four best-performing teams advancing to play league matches. These top teams will then progress to the All India Inter-Zonal Tournament, to be held at GNA University in Phagwara, Punjab. Among the 32 teams that will represent India’s eight zones, eight will be selected to compete in the prestigious Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2024-25 session.
Nineteen university teams had registered for the tournament, representing all eight northeastern states. Matches will be held at two venues: the Dr. T. Ao Football Ground in Lumami and the Mokokchung local ground. The tournament is organized under the auspices of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi.
